Dispenser for flexible sheets

ABSTRACT

A dispenser having a lid with an opening for dispensing individual flexible sheets wherein the flexible sheets are formed from a continuous sheet of material having perforations at predetermined intervals. The lid having a centrally located annular groove and concentric raised portion surrounding an opening disposed in the lid to permit the continuous sheet material to pass therethrough, and a resilient gasket having an opening corresponding in size to the opening in the lid. The gasket having a peripheral edge attached to the lid with the opening of the gasket aligned with the opening in the lid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/637,158, filed on Mar. 1, 2018; the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Several devices have been developed for dispensing flexible sheets, such as tissues and wipes. For example, boxes of tissue are generally constructed from a relatively rigid cardboard material and are formed with an opening in the top. The opening is generally covered, internally or externally, with a thin plastic film or the like having a slit formed in the thin plastic film and spanning some portion of the width of the opening in the box. Individual tissues are generally fed through the slit so when an individual tissue is pulled from the box, preferably with one hand, the next tissue in the box is pulled through the slit and a portion thereof protrudes through the slit and is held to be easily accessible the next time a tissue is desired. Tissues dispensed in this fashion are generally dry or substantially dry to the touch, so the loss of moisture through the slit, the thin plastic film, or through the cardboard is generally not an issue. If pre-moistened sheets were dispensed from such a dispenser, moisture would likely be lost through numerous portions of the dispenser, and it would therefore be unsuitable for storage or dispensation of pre-moistened wipes.

Other dispensers, such as those used for certain pre-moistened wipes, may be formed of plastic or other similar materials often substantially rigid. Such other dispensers often have a single slit in the top of the dispenser through which wipes may be pulled out of the dispenser. Such wipes may be formed from a substantially continuous sheet of material perforated at pre-determined intervals so an individual wipe may be torn away from the next adjacent wipe as or after the first wipe is pulled through the slit, or wipes may be individually formed and disposed so pulling a wipe through the slit simultaneously pulls a portion of the next wipe through the slit. However, such plastic dispensers are often too rigid and too inflexible to permit proper functioning. For example, where the plastic or other material is too rigid or too inflexible, a first wipe may be pulled through while the next wipe is prevented from being pulled through the slit requiring the wipes to be tediously threaded back through the slit, or the next wipe is not pulled far enough through the slit to permit a user to easily grasp the next wipe. Conversely, where the plastic material is insufficiently rigid or resilient, and especially where a dispenser is used with a perforated sheet of multiple wipes, the slit may not impart enough force or friction to permit an individual wipe to be pulled away from the next adjacent wipe without using both hands, for example, one hand to pull the first wipe and the other hand to hold the next wipe and permit the first wipe to tear or pull away from the next wipe. When the first wipe tears away from the second wipe, the force imparted by the slit often cannot prevent the wipe from falling back into the dispenser which again requires the user to open the container for the wipes to be threaded back through the slit to retrieve the next wipe.

A need exists for an improved dispenser that permits pre-moistened sheets, such as wipes, to be stored and dispensed over time while ensuring that the sheets or wipes may be conveniently and effectively dispensed one at a time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a dispenser for pre-moistened sheets having a sheet protruding from the top of the dispenser and constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 and shown without the sheet protruding from the top of the dispenser.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, shown without the sheet protruding from the top of the dispenser.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a gasket of FIG. 2 shown removed from the dispenser.

FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of a gasket.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a dispenser shown without a sheet protruding from the top of the dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the details of construction, experiments, exemplary data, and/or the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventive concepts are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed is for purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

In this detailed description of embodiments of the inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements or steps is not necessarily limited to only those elements or steps and may include other elements, steps, or features not expressly listed or inherently present therein.

Unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concepts. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Throughout this disclosure and the claims, the terms “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially” are intended to signify that the item being qualified is not limited to the exact value specified, but includes slight variations or deviations therefrom, caused by measuring error, manufacturing tolerances, stress exerted on various parts, wear and tear, or combinations thereof, for example.

The use of the term “at least one” will be understood to include one and any quantity more than one, including but not limited to each of, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100, and all integers therebetween. The term “at least one” may extend up to 100 or 1000 or more, depending on the term to which it is attached; in addition, the quantities of 100/1000 are not to be considered limiting, as higher limits may also produce satisfactory results. Singular terms shall include pluralities and plural terms shall include the singular unless indicated otherwise.

The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to all permutations and/or combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof” is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AAB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.

Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment, although the inventive concepts disclosed herein are intended to encompass all combinations and permutations including one or more features of the embodiments described.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, shown and designated by the reference numeral 10 is a dispenser for flexible sheets constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The dispenser 10 preferably includes a body 14 and a lid 18, and is shown with a flexible sheet 22 extending through the lid 18 so the sheet 22 is positioned to be pulled from the dispenser 10. The body 14 has a lower end 26, an upper end 30, a sidewall 34 extending between the upper and lower ends 26 and 30, and a bottom 38 enclosing the lower end 26. The sidewall 34 extends upwardly from bottom 38 of body 14 and terminates in a peripheral edge or rim that defines a substantially-hollow internal compartment 42 for receiving and holding a supply of continuous sheet material. Although shown herein as cylindrical, the body 14 may be formed in any suitable shape or size, such as square, triangular, or the like, so the compartment 42 within the body 14 is of suitable size and shape to hold a plurality of flexible sheets 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The flexible sheets 22 may be formed and placed within the compartment 42 in any suitable manner. For example, the flexible sheets may be individually pre-cut, folded, and/or stacked. By way of another example, a continuous sheet of material may be perforated at pre-determined intervals to define a plurality of sheets that may be torn or pulled away from the continuous sheet, and the continuous sheet may be z-folded, rolled, or the like and positioned within the compartment 42 for convenient dispensation. In one embodiment, the continuous sheet is rolled.

The lid 18 is formed from a semi-rigid to rigid material to correspond in size and shape with the body 14. The lid 18 may also include a rim 46 and an opening 50. The rim 46 circumscribes the lid 18. In the embodiment shown, the body 14 may include a lip 48 for receiving the lid 18. In other embodiments, the lid 18 may interact with, connect to, engage, or be integral to and seal the body 14, as suitable to permit the dispenser 10 to function. The Lid 18 has a centrally located annular groove 57 and concentric raised portion 56 that surrounds a shaped opening 50 centrally disposed in the lid 18 to permit the continuous sheet material to pass therethrough. In the embodiment shown, the annular groove 57 surrounds raised portion 56. The opening 50 is formed through the lid 18 to permit the flexible sheets 22 to pass through the lid 18. In the embodiment best shown in FIG. 4, the opening 50 is a polygonal shape and includes a plurality of slits 52 radiating from the opening 50, which is centrally disposed in the lid 18. The plurality of slits 52 define a plurality of flaps 55. In other embodiments, the opening 50 may be any suitable shape and may be disposed in any suitable location in either the lid 18 or the body 14. For example, the opening 50 may be circular, square, or rectangular and disposed through the sidewall 34 of the body 18. As noted above, raised portion 56 is circular and encircles opening 50 and flaps 55.

The body 14 and the lid 18 (including flaps 55) may be formed from a substantially rigid or semi-rigid material, such as metal, plastic, polymer, cardboard, aluminum, alloy, carbon fiber, or the like. In one embodiment, the material used to form the body 14 and the lid 18 is also substantially impervious to water. The lid 18 may be formed from a semi-rigid material configured to engage the peripheral rim of the body 14 and seal the compartment 42. In this embodiment, when dry sheets are stored in the dispenser 10, moisture is substantially prevented from entering the dispenser 10, and when pre-moistened sheets are stored in the dispenser 10, moisture is substantially prevented from escaping the dispenser 10.

The dispenser 10 further includes a gasket 54 cooperatively associated with the lid 18 adjacent the opening 50. The gasket 54 terminates in a peripheral edge 58 arranged for attaching to lid 18. The gasket 54 includes an opening 60, and a slitted portion 62. In the embodiment shown, the size of the opening 60 of the gasket 54 substantially corresponds with the size of the opening 50 of the lid 18. The peripheral edge 58 is attached to the lid 18 with the opening 60 of the gasket 54 aligned with the opening 50 in the lid 18. The opening 60 of the gasket 54 has a plurality of slits 62 that radiate outwardly therefrom to define a plurality of flaps 70 and 70 a surrounding and adjacent to the opening 50. In the embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, the gasket 54 is shown attached to a bottom surface of the lid 18 at the peripheral edge 58 of the gasket 54 with the flaps 70 and 70 a contacting the lid 18, but not attached to the lid 18. The peripheral edge 58 may be attached to the lid 18 in any suitable fashion, such as with an adhesive, a thermal weld, rivets, or the like.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the slitted portion 62 of gasket 54 includes two slits 66 defining a plurality of flaps 70. The two slits 66 cross one another and span about one third the length of the gasket 54. In other embodiments, the slitted portion 62 may be provided with a single slit 66, or with any other suitable number of slits 66, such as three, five, or the like. FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a gasket, such as gasket 54 a, which includes a plurality of slits 68 a radiating outwardly from a central point to define a plurality of flaps 70 a. The gasket 54 a is devoid of an opening, such as the opening 60 of the gasket 54.

The gasket 54 is formed of a material material more resilient than the lid so the flaps 70 may be deformed by force, such as when a sheet 22 is pulled through the slitted portion 62. For example, the gasket 54 may be formed from resilient foam, rubber, neoprene rubber, combinations thereof, or any other suitable resilient material that permits the gasket 54, and specifically the slitted portion 62, to function as described herein. In one embodiment, the material used for the gasket 54 has a thickness of about 1/16 inch, and has a Shore A hardness preferably between about 50 and about 70, more preferably between about 55 and about 65, and most preferably about 60. The gasket 54 material has a tensile strength preferably between about 500 psi and about 1500 psi, more preferably between about 750 psi and about 1250 psi, and most preferably about 1000 psi. Further, the gasket 54 material has an elongation preferably between about 250 percent and about 450 percent, more preferably between about 300 percent and about 400 percent, and most preferably about 350 percent. One example of a suitable material for the gasket 54 is a neoprene-rubber compound available from West American Rubber Co., Inc. (WARGO) in Orange, Calif. This exemplary compound may be designated by the WARGO reference number 60E235, contains about 40 percent neoprene, and has a Shore A hardness of about 60 plus or minus 5, a tensile strength of about 1000 pounds per square inch (psi), and an elongation of about 350 percent. The gasket 54 a may be formed of substantially the same material and size as the gasket 54.

In operation, a continuous sheet of material having perforations at predetermined intervals to provide a series of one or more flexible sheets 22 is placed within the compartment 42 of the dispenser 10, and one sheet 22 threaded through the slitted portions 52 and 62, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the sheet 22 is disposed within the slitted portion 62, the flaps 70 resiliently flex apart from one another and press against the sheet 22, and the flaps 55 press against the flaps 70. The flaps 70 and flaps 55 cooperate to impart a combined force against the sheet 22 so when a first sheet 22 is pulled from the dispenser 10, the next sheet 22 is pulled through the slitted portions 52 and 62 as or just before the first sheet 22 is pulled or torn away, and so the next sheet extends a slight distance, such as about 1 to 2 inches, from the slitted portion 52 of the lid. This slight distance or extension prevents the sheet 22 from releasing back into compartment 42. When the dispenser 10 is used to reliably dispense individual sheets 22 from a substantially-continuous sheet having perforations that define a plurality of individual sheets 22 that must be torn away individually, the position of the gasket 54 surface opposite the mating surface of lid 18, the resiliency of the gasket 54 and the lid 18, and the force imparted on the sheet 22 by the corresponding flaps 55 and 70 is important to proper functioning of the dispenser 10. The force imparted by the flaps 55 and 70 of gasket 54 and the lid 18, respectively, is so, as a first sheet 22 is pulled from the dispenser 10, the first sheet 22 tears away from the continuous sheet as or immediately after the next sheet 22 pulls through the slitted portion 62, and when the first sheet 22 tears away completely, a portion of the next sheet 22 (e.g., about 1 inch to about 2 inches) remains extending through the slitted portion 52, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The combined resiliency of the flaps 70 formed in the gasket 54 and the strength of the flaps 55 formed in the lid 18 cooperate in operation to create a retaining grip on the next sheet 22 sufficient to reduce, if not eliminate, the tendency of the next sheet 22 to release or fall back into the internal compartment 42. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, flaps 70 a provide a retaining grip similar to flaps 70 which may be further enhanced by the ends of the flaps 70 a being pointed, as shown. Finally, the resiliency of the flaps 70 is so the flaps 70 provide the additional advantage of creating an effective seal about the sheet 22 to maintain the moisture content of the sheets 22 housed in the dispenser 10. The flaps 70 a may provide the same moisture maintaining advantage, if not an enhanced advantage due to the sealing relationship between the flaps 70 a, when in a closed position, as best show in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a dispenser, such as a dispenser 110. The dispenser 110 is constructed and functions substantially the same as dispenser 10 and includes a body 114, a lid 118, and a gasket 154. However, in the embodiment shown, the gasket 154 is positioned on a top surface of the lid 118.

From the above description, the inventive concepts disclosed are well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned and those inherent in the inventive concepts disclosed. While exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed have been described for this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the scope and coverage of the inventive concepts disclosed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dispenser for dispensing individual flexible sheets wherein the flexible sheets are of the type formed from a continuous sheet of material having perforations at predetermined intervals whereby a first sheet may be torn away from the next adjacent sheet, and the continuous sheet is arranged to be fed through an opening in the lid of the dispenser, the dispenser comprising: a body having a bottom with sidewalls terminating in a peripheral rim defining a compartment for receiving and holding a supply of continuous sheet material; a lid engaged with the peripheral rim of the body to seal the compartment, the lid having an opening disposed in the lid to permit the continuous sheet material to pass therethrough and a plurality of slits radiating outwardly from the opening to define a plurality of flaps; and a gasket formed of a material more resilient than the lid, the gasket having an opening and a plurality of slits radiating outwardly therefrom defining a plurality of flaps, the gasket having a peripheral edge attached to the lid with the opening of the gasket aligned with the opening in the lid so passage of the continuous sheet material through the openings in the lid and the gasket causes the flaps of the gasket and the flaps of the lid to deform sufficiently to allow the continuous sheet material to pass therethrough but to exert sufficient force to cause individual sheets to tear away at each perforation while preventing the continuous sheet material from releasing back into the compartment.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a material selected from plastic, polymer, cardboard, aluminum, alloy, or carbon fiber.
 3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the gasket is formed from a material selected from resilient foam, rubber, neoprene rubber, and combinations thereof.
 4. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the gasket has a thickness of about 1/16 inch, a Shore A hardness between about 50 and about 70, a tensile strength between about 500 psi and about 1500 psi and an elongation between about 250 percent and about 450 percent.
 5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the gasket has a Shore A hardness of 60, a tensile strength of 1000 psi and an elongation of 350 percent.
 6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the opening in the gasket is square.
 7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the gasket is attached to a bottom surface of the lid.
 8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the gasket is attached to a top surface of the lid.
 9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the number of slits in the lid differs from the number of slits in the gasket.
 10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the opening in the gasket corresponds in size to the opening in the lid.
 11. A dispenser for dispensing individual flexible sheets wherein the flexible sheets are of the type formed from a continuous sheet of material having perforations at predetermined intervals whereby a first sheet may be torn away from the next adjacent sheet, and the continuous sheet is arranged to be fed through an opening in the lid of the dispenser, the dispenser comprising: a body having a bottom with sidewalls terminating in a peripheral rim defining a compartment for receiving and holding a supply of continuous sheet material; a lid engaged with the peripheral rim of the body to seal the compartment, the lid having an opening disposed in the lid to permit the continuous sheet material to pass therethrough and a plurality of slits radiating outwardly from the opening to define a plurality of flaps; and a gasket formed of a material more resilient than the lid, the gasket having a plurality of slits radiating outwardly from a central point to define a plurality of flaps, the gasket having a peripheral edge attached to the lid with the central point of the gasket aligned with the opening in the lid and the flaps of the gasket in contact with the flaps of the lid so passage of the continuous sheet material through the concentric openings in the lid and the gasket causes the flaps of the gasket and the flaps of the lid to deform sufficiently to allow the continuous sheet material to pass therethrough but to exert sufficient force to cause individual sheets to tear away at each perforation while preventing the continuous sheet material from releasing back into the compartment.
 12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the lid comprises a material selected from plastic, polymer, cardboard, aluminum, alloy, or carbon fiber.
 13. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the gasket is formed from a material selected from resilient foam, rubber, neoprene rubber, and combinations thereof.
 14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the gasket has a thickness of about 1/16 inch, a Shore A hardness between about 50 and about 70, a tensile strength between about 500 psi and about 1500 psi and an elongation between about 250 percent and about 450 percent.
 15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the gasket has a Shore A hardness of 60, a tensile strength of 1000 psi and an elongation of 350 percent.
 16. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the flaps of the gasket are unattached to the flaps of the lid.
 17. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the gasket is attached to bottom surface of the lid.
 18. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the gasket is attached to a top surface of the lid.
 19. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the number of slits in the lid differs from the number of slits in the gasket. 